Quilting-frame.



E. S. MANN.

QUILTING FRAME. APPLIQATION H Lnn un. 1e, 1911.

Patented June 6, 1911.

E'LIAS SMNQ."

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

ELIAS s. MANN, or SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

' QUILTING-ERAME.

`Specification of L'etters'Patent.

, Patented June e, 1911.

Application led January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602,944.

' Aand reducing to the minimum the effort required in manipulating the quilting frame.

More specific purposes are: to provide a swinging track-rail and in connection therewith a rotative carriage capable of movement lengthwise of the frame; to provide improved means oscillativelyconnecting the roller-supports with the carriage; to provide means foradjusting the frame to maintain the equilibrium of thev frame under different conditions of use; to provide means to facilitate the placing of the work under the arm of the sewing machine; and to provide other new and useful features hereinafter set forth. 1 Referring to the annexed drawing in which similar reference characters designate like parts in the several views; Figure 1 is anisometric view of the complete quilting frame; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are enlarged vertical sections on the lines X. X.; 'Y. Y; and Z. Z. respectively.

A track rail1 is suspended from any suitable stationary support by straps 2 or equivalent means. The rail 1 has a lengthwise channel 1*l adapted to accommodate balls 4, rolling in the channel. A block 3 has a rectangular opening 3a in which the track-rail 1 fits so that` the blockwill slide easily on the rail. The block 3 also has pockets 3d accommodating balls 4 which roll in the channel 1)L and minimize the friction of the block traveling on the rail. The block 3 also has a downwardly extending stem 3c. A circular table 5 is secured on the lower art of the stem 3c and has a circumferentlal groovea `forming a track for a series of balls 6 which occupy the groove. A circular box 7 surrounds the table 5 and is supported on the balls 6 and is adapted to rotate freely around the stem 3c, and the balls minimize the friction of the box rotating on the table.

The carriage 8 is rigidly connected with the box 7 and the parts are-so arranged that 1f the carriage be moved endwise the block 3 will travel lengthwise of the rail 1 and the carriage is adapted to rotate with the box 7 around the stem 3. This construction admits of lengthwise movement of the carriage on the track rail Vand rotation of the carriage on the table. Y

Hangers 9 arepmounted to oscillate freely in blocks 10 secured on the ends of the carriage 8 and have at their lower ends laterally extending fingers fitting ,in holes 12a in the bars 12. The hangers 9 which support theroller supporting bars 12 and 13 have an oscillative movement on the` carriage 8, in

order that the work may swing to theright or left, within the scope of oscillation of the brackets. Box loops 14 are secured on the bars 13 and surround the bars 12, so that thevbars 12 will slide in the loops and on the bars 13. On the upper surface of the bars 13 are ratchet teeth13'a.V Pawls-l are mounted to oscillate in slots :12b extending through the bars 12 and the lower ends of the pawls engage the. ratchet teeth 13a. Springs 16 serve to normally keep the pawls 15 in engagement with the teeth 13a. A block 17, called a gate-block, has atransverse depression 17a called a gate, and a laterally extending angular member 17d rigidly secured on one of the bars 13. The gate block 17 also has a horizontal hole 17c in which the spindle 18*l of the roller 18 fits. The receiving roller 18 is of suitable length to fit between one bar 13 andthe block 17 and has at its ends spindles'lSa.Y One spindle turns in the hole 17 and the other turns in a. transverse hole 13b in one of the bars 13.

A ratchet wheel 22 mounted on the roller 18 isengaged by a pawl 21 mounted on one v The goods to ybe quilted are wound byV hand on the winding-roller 19, passes under the tension roller 20, and as the quilting progresses, is wound onto the receiving roller 18. The lwinding roller, the tension roller, and the receiving roller are, except as 1 specified, of the usual construction and operate inthe usual manner; it is therefore unnecessary to describe them more particularly.

From time to time during the course of operation the goods wound onto the receiving roller 18 will over-balance the goods remaining on the winding roller 19 and will tend to cause tipping of the frame, which will interfere with the manipulatio-n of the work. To overcome this objection the pawls 15 will7 from time to time, be disengaged and the bars 12 will be slid on the bars 13, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, to restore the equilibrium of the frame. In introducing the work under the arm of the sewing machine the needle and the pressertoot will be iaised and the gate-block will be passed under the presser-foot and the work placed in position to begin operation.

In practical use the carriage will be moved lengthwise of the track when stitching crosswise of the goods; the carriage will rotate on the table when doing circular stitching and the carriage will travel lengthwise of the track and will rotate on the table when stitching a spiral or other curved and intricate design. These various adjustments adapt the quilting frame to do a great variety of work and admit of stitching of intricate and variously curved designs or figures.

I-Iaving fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a quilting frame, the combination of a carriage adapted to slide and adapted to rotate; hangers mounted to oscillate on the carriage; roller-supports supported on said hangers; a gate block secured on one roller-support; a receiving roller mounted on the gate-block and one roller-support; and winding rollers mounted on the rollersupports.

2. In a quilting frame, the combination of a carriage; hangers mounted on the carriage; adjusting bars mounted on. the hangers; roller-supporting-bars parallel to the adjusting-bars and provided with ratchets; box-loops connecting the adjusting-bars with the roller-supporting-bars; and pawls mounted on the adjusting bars and engaging the ratchets of the roller-supporting-bars.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Springfield, Illinois this 3d day of December; 1910.

ELIAS S. MANN.

Witnesses FRED IIAHN, JOHN F. BREUSING.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

